Rear vision system

Abstract

A rear vision system having a divided lens configuration and sensor array. The sensor array has a first, second section and third sections. The lens configuration includes a first portion directing a first field of view onto the first section of the sensor array, and a second portion directing a second field of view onto the second section of the sensor array. The sensor array may be a complementary metal oxide semiconductor camera or a charge coupled device camera.

1. A rear vision system comprising:
 a sensor array having a first, second and third sensor sections; 
 a lens configuration having a first portion directing a first field of view onto the first sensor section, a second portion directing a second field of view onto the second sensor section, and a third portion directing a third field of view onto the third sensor section; 
 the first sensor section located entirely between the second and third sensor sections; 
 the first portion of the lens configuration includes a first wall having a viewing opening defined therein; 
 the second portion of the lens configuration includes a second wall with a viewing opening defined therein, the second wall being fixedly attached to and directly adjacent to the first wall; 
 the second portion of the lens configuration includes a reflective wall including a reflective surface, the reflective wall being fixedly attached to and directly adjacent to the second wall and angled with respect to the sensor array. 
 
     
     
       2. The rear vision system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensor portions corresponds in number to portions of the lens configuration defining different fields of view. 
     
     
       3. The rear vision system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fields of view overlap one another. 
     
     
       4. The rear vision system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fields of view do not overlap one another. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the third portion of the lens configuration includes a third wall with a viewing opening therein, the third wall being fixedly attached to and directly adjacent to the first wall, the third portion also having a reflective wall including a reflective surface, the reflective wall being fixedly attached to and directly adjacent to the first wall and angled with respect to the sensor array. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the angling of the reflective surfaces with regard to the sensor array are substantially the same. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the angling of the reflective surfaces is in the range of about 30 degrees to 60 degrees. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the angling of the reflective surfaces is about 45 degrees. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising;
 a first lens positioned within the viewing opening of the first wall; and 
 a second lens positioned within the viewing opening of the second wall. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the lens is a plastic lens. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the lens is a glass lens. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective surface of the second portion is a mirror. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor array is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor camera. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor army is part of a charge coupled device camera. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic system and a display device, whereby the electronic system is configured to display at least one of the first field of view, the second field of view and the third field of view on the display device.